Football Spring Game Slated For Sunday, May 2

Apr 28, 2004

April 28, 2004

Providence, RI -
The Brown Football Team will culminate 12 days of spring football practice with the Annual Brown vs. White Spring Football Game on Sunday, May 2nd at Brown Stadium, beginning at 1:00 p.m. The game is free and open to the public.

Head coach Phil Estes' team finished the 2003 season at 5-5 overall and earned a second place finish in the Ivy League standings with a 4-3 league mark after winning four of its last five games. Armed with the return of eight starters on offense and seven on defense, the Bears are optimistic about their Ivy League title hopes.

For the last 10 years, Brown's offense has been synonymous with an explosive aerial attack, All-American wide receivers and record-setting quarterbacks. But as explosive as its offense has been, Brown unveiled a powerful rushing attack last year, featuring All-American Nick Hartigan, who led the nation in rushing and established a single-season Brown rushing record with 1,498 yards, fourth best in Ivy League history.

The Spring Game will go a long way in determining the quarterback position, which is wide open with the graduation of Kyle Slager. Four players - junior Matt Hostetler, senior Nick Marietti and sophomores Joe DiGiacomo and Anthony Vita - will be battling throughout the spring and pre-season for the starting nod.

The entire offensive line returns intact, with all five starters returning to the lineup, including All-Ivy senior Will Burroughs. In addition, senior Lawrence Rubida, an All-Ivy selection two years ago, returns to the lineup after missing the 2003 season due to injury.

Brown ranked second in the Ivy League in total defense, yielding 369.2 yards a game in 2003, and the Bears return 7 of 11 defensive starters. The Bears will be led by senior outside linebacker Anjel Gutierrez, who earned honorable mention All-Ivy honors after leading the defense with three interceptions last season, and ranked fourth with 64 total tackles. Brown's secondary returns intact with junior corners Jamie Gasparella and Jason Ching returning along with senior safety Craig Young.